New Covenant (theology)
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Some Bible translations use the term New Covenant. According to Replacement theology, this refers to the covenant or agreement made between God and Christians which is the replacement for the original covenant made between God and Israel (called Judaism) at Mount Sinai. For example, the NIV translation uses the phrase 9 times, the KJV translation uses it 3 times: Hebrews 8:8,13,12:24. Technically, according to Replacement theology, the New Covenant is put into effect at the very moment of the death of Christ, first mentioned in Matthew 27:50. Just as a will is not put into effect until the testator dies, so too, the New Covenant could not be put into effect until Christ died as is explained in the Book of Hebrews 9:16-18 (see Jeremiah 31:31-32, Hebrews 10:16, Hebrews 8:13, Matthew 26:28). Some use the term New Covenant to refer to the books of the New Testament.
There is not the slightest hint in the Bible that the Ten Commandments have been replaced. Jesus confirmed His holy moral law of the decalogue [Matthew 5:17-19; 19:18]and then sealed it with His blood. No covenant can be changed after the Testator has died. What has been replaced, is that the first the sanctuary [Hebrews 9:1]has been superceeded by the original [Hebrews 8:1-5] in Heaven made by the Lord.
The Ten Commandments are now in the heavenly Temple where Jesus is the high Priest and they are found in the ark of the covenant [Revelation 11:19] which contain the decalogue [1.Kings 8:9] which will judge us [James 2:10-12]. In the Old testament, people promised to keep the Ten Commandments and failed, but now under the New, GOD Himself enables us to keep them by writing the Law into our hearts and minds [Hebrews 8:6-10; 10:14-19] which is the only way to guarantee obedience. Looking back at the cruel cross we can see the great price that has been paid for our sins which is the violation of the moral Law [Romans 7:7; 1.Jn.3:4]. If the Law could have been set aside to let us go free, Jesus would not have needed to die in our place to set us free from sin. Rolf Vaessen
The Bible says the old covenant has been made obsolete, but never says the Law is obsolete. With the addition of every covenant, the old is made obsolete but is not revoked unless the new covenant specifically mandates it. The Circumcision didn't take the Rainbow away. The Law didn't take either of the previous away, and the New Covenant is merely an expansion to all covenants. The Bible says the curtain that held God's Spirit was broken, not the Ten Commandments.
See also
- Old Testament#Christian view of the Law
- Expounding of the Law
- Antinomianism
- Cafeteria Christianity
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